The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1887-05-28
THE DRINK QUESTION: IN ENaIArD.
A Review OF Convivial Customs In Early
Times, and Legislative RestSiotions on
the Sisio OF AlcOhUiiu Hcvcrnxcn.

mss q sas ~ ns.y
she sale OF Alooh0iiu 0cvcraKol.
An English exchange remarks that the
drink question has been difficult prob
lem from the dawn Of English history to
the present day.
Tae earlier pages OF our annals record
that the Britop5 were frugal In their
meals. which consisted chiefly OF milk
was water. They occasionally indulged
In o fermented drink made from barley.
honey or apples, and o free use OF iG
never failed to make them ill.natured
and ready to quarrel.
During the Roman rule In this country
wine and other Intoxicating drinks were
freely consumed. The bush, which was
for ages the sign OF an Inn, Is traced to
the Romans, and to them also we owe
the national custom OF toasting or health
The Saxon period was one In which in.
temperance prevailed to q fearful extent.
It Is stated on reliable authority that
even the clergy epent days and nights In
drunkenness and debauohery.
King Edgar must be credited with do
Ing q noble work In the reformation OF
Of strong drink. It is remarked by the
Rev. DR.. French that the King nearly
anticipated by q thousand years the leg
islatlon proposed by the United King
dom Alliance. Acting on the advice Of
Dhnstan, says Strut, tAhe put down
many ale houses; suffering only one to
exist in a-village or small town; and he
'alBo further ordained that pins or nails
should be fastened into drinking cups
whoever should drink beyond these
marks at one draught should be liable to
severe punishment."
Archbishop Dunstan was equally zeal
Gus In checking intemperance In the
church. We make few extracts as fol-
lows from a code drawn up by him:
,.tLet no drinking be allowed in the
church.
"Let men be very temperate at church
there no drinking or uncleai,liness.
Let priests beware Of drunkenness
and be dil!gent In warning and correct.
Ing others In this matter.
Let NJ, priest be an ale ecop nor in
any wise act the gleeman."
The Danes drank to o great excess
and during the time their kings occupied
the throne OF England drunkenness cast
q blight over the land.
The Norman conquest brought about
many important changes in social life.
Sobrlety was not the least Of the virtues
Of the Normans.
!. Coming down to Tudor times, we find
an almost similar statute passed to the
stringent regulations Of Edgar. In the
last year OF the reign Of Edward vi it
was enacted that "none shall keep a
tavern for retailing wines unless IL
censed; and that only in cities, towns
corporate, burgs. post towns or market
towns or in the towns Of .Gravesend,
Sittingbourne. Tuxford and Bagshot, on
the forfeiture Of ten pounds. And there
shau be only taverns for retailing wine
In every city:of town except London,
which may have forty taverns; in York,
eight taverns in Norwich, four; in West
minister, three; In Bristol, six; in Lin
coin, three; In Hull. four; In Shrews-
bury, three; in Gloucester, four; in
Westchester (Chester), four; in Here
ford, three; In Southampton; three; in
Canterbury. four; in Ipswich. three; in
Winchester. three; In Oxford ithree; in
Cambrl sc, four; in Colchester, three,
and in Newcastle. Tyne, four"
It is chronicled that this legislation
j, was the means Of reducing the consump-
tion OF Intoxicating drink.